Surface cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surface cleaning apparatus is described including a floor head, a housing supporting a suction source and a dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A). The device further includes an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container. The elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national stage entry of International Application No. PCT/GB2017/053077, filed Oct. 12, 2017, which claims priority to U.K. Patent Application No. 1617520.0, filed Oct. 14, 2016, the entire contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a surface cleaning apparatus including:

a floor head;

a housing supporting:

-   -   a suction source; and     -   a dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A);

an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container,

wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the direct collection container.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a surface cleaning apparatus including:

a floor head;

a housing supporting:

-   -   a suction source;     -   a dirt collection container; and     -   a cyclonic separation device for separating dirt from the         airflow passing through the apparatus, said device having an         elongate axis (A),

an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container,

wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device.

Further features of the invention are set out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be set out below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an opposite side view of the apparatus FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing of the apparatus of FIG. 1, which housing is operable as a handheld surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the housing of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the housing from the same side as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, these show a surface cleaning apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a floor head 12, a housing 16 and an elongate member 14, having an elongate axis B, connecting the floor head 12 to the housing 16. The housing 16 in this example is operable as a handheld surface cleaning apparatus, commonly known as a hand vac, when the elongate member 14 and floor head 12 are not connected thereto. The housing 16 supports a suction source, a dirt container 18 and a cyclonic separator. In this example the suction source is an electric motor driving a rotatable fan, but any appropriate suction source may be used. All that is necessary is for the suction source to be able to draw air through the floor head 12 and elongate member 14 towards the dirt collection container.

In this example the housing 16 supports or contains a battery to provide electrical power to the suction motor and other components of the apparatus 10. In alternative embodiments, the apparatus 10 may be mains powered.

Whilst in the present embodiment the apparatus 10 includes a cyclonic separator to separate dirt from the air flowing through the apparatus 10, this is not essential. Indeed, embodiments are envisaged where the apparatus 10 includes a filter bag which collects dirt, or any other appropriate device to separate the dirt from the air. The apparatus 10 includes a pivotally moveable door 18 a which enables a user to empty dirt collected within the container 18.

The elongate member 14 includes a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head 12 to the dirt collection container 18. In this example the floor head 12 includes a motor for driving a rotatable floor agitating member or brush, so the elongate member 14 includes a further passage through which electrical cables may extend to provide an electric connection between the housing 16 and the motor in the floor head.

The floor head 12 is disconnectable from the elongate member 14, so that, for example, another tool can be connected to the free end of the elongate member 14. The elongate member 14 is also disconnectable from the housing 16, by way of a manually operated switch 17. This enables the housing 16 to be used as handheld surface cleaning apparatus, with the option of being able to connect another tool to the location from where the elongate member 16 is removed.

The housing 16 includes a handle for holding the apparatus 10, said handle including first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions which are connected to each other substantially at right-angles. A first end of the first user-graspable portion 20 is connected to the housing 16 and extends generally rearwardly away therefrom and from the elongate member 14. A first end of the second user-graspable portion 21 is connected to the housing 16 and extends generally upwardly therefrom. Respective second ends of the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions are connected to each other. Essentially, the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions form a handle which is L-shaped and which provides two locations each of which is sized such that it can be grasped fully by a hand of a user. A device 22, e.g. a switch, for turning the apparatus “on” is positioned at the connection of the second ends of the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions to each other.

In the present embodiment, the dirt collection container 18 is generally cylindrical and has an elongate axis A. Within the dirt collection container 18 is positioned a cyclonic separation device which also has an elongate axis coaxial with the axis A, the axis A being that about which dirt-laden air is caused to rotate as it passes through the apparatus 10. The elongate axis A is substantially horizontal in normal use. Whilst in this embodiment the elongate axes of the dirt collection container 18 and the cyclonic separation device are coaxial or substantially coaxial, they need not be. They could, for example, be parallel and offset from each other or inclined relative to each other.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the elongate axis B of the elongate member 14 intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis A of the dirt collection container 18, with the two axes intersecting substantially at right angles. In other words, the axes A and B are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other. As the elongate axis of the cyclonic separator is coaxial with the axis A, in the present embodiment, the elongate axis B of the elongate member 14 also intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis A of the cyclonic separation device.

This aligning of the axes A and B provides for improved handling of the apparatus 10, especially, although not exclusively, in the configuration where the elongate member 14 is connected to the housing 16, because of improved weight distribution. Also, the intersecting of the axes A and B in combination with the two part handle arrangement provide for improved weight distribution and handling whether the first 20 or second 21 user-graspable portion is being held. Further, the intersecting and alignment of the axes A and B ensures that air flowing from the elongate member 14 or tool (whichever is connected to the housing 16) can travel in an efficient and shorter path to the cyclonic separator device, thus improving separation efficiency and performance.

Where the axis A is said to be substantially horizontal in normal use, this orientation can also be described relative to the handle and to axis B. The handle of the device (i.e. the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portion) is formed in a plane that lies substantially parallel to axis B, and preferably coincident with axis B. For example and as shown, the handle is preferably central relative to the width of the device, and in embodiments the user-graspable portions extend rearwardly and downwardly. The axis A lies perpendicular to the plane of the handle, i.e. it is disposed across the width of the device, rather than lengthwise or vertically. Therefore, in embodiments and as shown, the axis A lies substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the handle and axis B both lie, which—in normal use—is typically substantially horizontal.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. 

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a floor head; a housing supporting a suction source; and a dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A); an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container; and a user graspable handle coupled to the housing, the user graspable handle having a user-graspable portion extending substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection chamber, wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection container.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate axis of the dirt collection container is substantially horizontal in normal use.
 3. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a floor head; a housing supporting a suction source; a dirt collection container; and a cyclonic separation device for separating dirt from the airflow passing through the apparatus, said device having an elongate axis (A), an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container, and a user graspable handle coupled to the housing, the user graspable handle having a user-graspable portion extending substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device, wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects he elongate axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device is an axis substantially about which dirt-laden air is caused to rotate as it passes through the apparatus.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis of the cyclonic separation device is substantially horizontal in normal use.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis of the dirt collection container is substantially horizontal in normal use.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are parallel with each other.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing includes or is connected to a handle for holding the apparatus.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate member is disconnectable from the floor head.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate member is disconnectable from the housing.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing is operable as a handheld surface cleaning apparatus when the elongate member and floor head are disconnected therefrom.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a tool may be connected to the housing in place of the elongate member.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the axes A and B are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other. 14.-15. (canceled)
 16. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are substantially coaxial.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are coaxial. 